Portable boat.



PATENTED JUNE 27. 1905.

J. ROSENBERG.

PORTABLE BOAT.

APPL'IOATIOH FILED JAN. 9. 1905.

No. 793,280. PATENTED JUNE 27, 1905. J. ROSENBERG.

PORTABLE BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 9. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

MW am J yaw/dip? Lil UNTTED STATES Patented June 27, 1905.

JOSEPH ROSENBERG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PORTABLE BOAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 793,230, dated June 27', 1905.

Application filed January 9,1905. Serial No. 240,194.

To r/J/ u'lmm/ it 'mirzy cmtccrn:

Be it known that I. JosEru ROSENBERG, a citizen of I'Iungary, residing atChicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Boats, of which the following is a specil'ication.

This invention relates to portable equipments adapted for the military and camp life; and its particular object is to provide a boat constructed out of parts adapted to be combined and used in a plurality of capacities, such as a canvas boat. stretcher, tent, &c.

The invention consists, generally speaking, in a novel boat-framework constructed of tubing, such as bicycle-tubing, adapted to be securely and separably joined together and quickly taken apart to be packed in the form of a comparatively small bundle and in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter referred to in the detail description, illustrated in the drawings, and incorporated in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the framework of a boat emlmdying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the canvas cover or outer shell shown in position. Fig. 3 is a top plan view with the thwarts removed. Fig. 4: is a cross-section, on an enlarged scale. Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate one of the joints. Fig. 7 is a plan view showing part of the tubing and canvas of the boat converted into a stretcher.

Referring to the drawings, 2 2 represent a series of substantially identical straight tu besections for the side portions of the boat-framework, and 3 a series of substantially identically curved tube-sections forming the end portions of the boat-framework. The tubes 2 and 3 are provided with inner sleeves or tubes 4, secured by rivets 5. Said inner tubes 4, as shown in Fig. 5, project beyond the ends of the tubes 2 and 3, as the case may be. To the inner sides of the tubes 4 are secured springs 5 by means of rivets ('3. Said springs have upon their free ends catches 7, normally projecting throughapertures 8 in tubes i, and are designed to engage apertures 9 in the complemental tubes when the latter and project- I ing portions of tubes 4 are telescaiped.

The catches T have inclines T, which engage the inner walls of the complemental tubes when tubes at are inserted and cause catches 7 to move inwardly flush with the outer surfaces of tubes l. The tubes 2, 2, and 3 comprise the sides of the framework, and these sides are joined together crosswise by thwarts or cross-tubes 10, pivoted to lugs 11 on the upper ends of ribs 12. Said thwarts or cross-tubes are provided with joints like the one shown in Fig. The ribs 12 are arranged in pairs, each member of which has pivoted to its lower end a nut or threaded socket 123 for a screw 14:, provided with a knurled collar 15 and a hole for a key to expand, 16. The screws I C have right-hand threads at one end and lefthand threads at the opposite end, and the com plemental sockets I are threaded accordingly. The latter, together with each screw 14, comprise turnbuckles, by means of which the members of each pair of ribs 12 are moved toward and from each other on pivots 17 to expand or contract the frame-lmdy of the boat.

The curved tubes 3, meeting at the prows or the ends of the boat, are fastened together by means of keys 18 and 19, pivoted together at 20. These keys are formed to provide U- shapcd yokes. In the free ends of tubes 3 are slots 21 for the keys l8 and 19, which permit limited movements relatively to keys l8 and 19. ()n the upper ends of said keys aronuts which hold them in place on the tubes 3.

In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 four pairs of turnbuckles and thwarts are shown, their number depending, of course, on the size or length of the boat.

23 represents canvas strips serving as seats for the boat, and said strips are secured in any suitable manner to the upper series of tubes 2 and 2.

The outer covering 24: may consist of canvas or cloth taken from soldiers or campers tents. The cover A is preferably made a trifle smaller than the boat-frame and is provided with a series of flaps 25, on which are strips 26, secured to buckles 2T. \Vhen the outer covering has been placed upon the frame,

the screws 14 are turned to force the lower ends of ribs 12 apart, which expands the framework and stretches the canvas cover 21.

In ordinary boats adapted for hunting and camping three tiers of tubes 2, 2, and 3 are ordinarily sufficient, and as the tubes in each. of the two series oftubes--curved and straightare substantially alike they may be packed into a very small package or space, while when joined together as a boat-frame thelatter is for all practical purposes as firm and rigid as the framework of a non-collapsible boat. There are no hinges in the outer frame of the boat liable to flex and accidentally collapse the boat, and the means for stretching the outer cover 24 permit considerable latitude not onlyfor the purpose of varying the bottom contour of the boat, but for the purpose of adapting the framework to fit tightly into coverings that vary in size or which will stretch or shrink in use. The flaps 25 and strips 26, in combination with the buckles 27, also contribute to make the cover 24 adjust able for such variations. In order to obtain that degree of tension in the cloth which is necessary, the turnbuckles are relied upon to obtain the best sailing qualities possible.

In Fig. 7 I have illustrated one of the uses to which the tubes of the boat may be put. Several of the tubes 2 and 2 are shown in Fig. 7 joined together to form the side bars of a stretcher, and two of the sections 10 provide cross-pieces which support the canvas 2st. These cross-pieces 10 are held in Ts 30, which in turn are fastened by means of setscrews 81.

It is to be observed that the transverse ribs 12 move pivotally upon the upper longitudinal ribs 2, 2, and 3, and the longitudinal ribs below move relatively to the upper ribs, which movements are permitted by the slotted ends engaging the U-shaped yokes. Vith the rigid turnbuckles at the lower ends of the trans verse ribs and the rigid thwarts at the upper ends separating the rigid longitudinal ribs the whole framework is made as safe as if it were permanently joined or non-separable.

It is obvious that modifications may be made in the method of fastening the telescopic ends of the tubes together and that other modifications may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of my invention, which 1 therefore do not wish to confine to the exact details of construction herein shown and described.

hat 1 claim is 1. In a portable boat, a frame consisting of longitudinal and transverse, rigid tubular ribs, each said rib consisting of separable sections,

said frame being substantially rigid or relati vely immovable in its upper horizontal plane and expansible or contractile below said upper plane.

2. In a portable boat, the combination with a plurality of longitudinal rib-sections interlocking to form continuous and substantially rigid longitudinal ribs extending from one end of the boat to the other, a series of transverse ribs pivoted to the upper ofthe longitudinal ribs, connections between the lower ends of said transverse ribs, and means for lengthening or shortening said connections to move said transverse ribs toward and from each other.

3. In a portable boat, a framework consisting of longitudinal tube-sections, means for separably and rigidly interlocking said sections, a series of thwarts also consisting of rigidly-interlocking tube-sections extending across the top of said framework, transverse ribs movable angularly with relation to said thwarts, and means for adjusting said transverse ribs to expand or contract said framework.

1. In a portable boat, a series of longitudinal ribs consisting of tube sections having telescopic ends for each side of said boat, the ends of said longitudinal ribs yoked together for relative movement, a series of transverse ribs extending from top to bottom of the boat, arranged to rotate about the upper of said longitudinal ribs and to move the lower of the longitudinal ribs toward and from each other, and turnbuckles connecting the lower ends of said transverse ribs whereby the latter may be moved to expand or contract the sides of the boat.

5. Ina portable boat, a plurality of tubular ribs, each rib consisting of separable sections 2, 2 and 3 having telescoping joints secured together by spring-catches 5 7 engaging openings 8 and 9 in said sections, said ribs joined together at their ends by links 18 and 19, the lower of said ribs being movable relatively to said links through slot 21, a series of thwarts 10 also consisting of tube sections having joints similar to sections 2, 2 and 3, the transverse ribs 12 arranged to move angularly relatively to said thwarts and the connections 13, 13 and 14 for adjusting said ribs.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH ROSENBERG.

Vitnesses:

A. Ko n'rsonALn, A. SUOKAW.

ITO 

